章節 9: The Sealing of Magic
"Is this truly the Winter Embrace Forest? Why is there not a single magical beast in sight?" inquired a red-haired woman named Shivana.
Having journeyed day and night from the imperial capital of Mapleleaf Snow, she and Lux discovered upon entering the woods that this notorious realm, known throughout the empire for its ferocity, was devoid of even the commonest wild beasts. The vast expanse of forest was shrouded in a chilling silence.
"Could something have happened? I don't recall it being like this during my last visit," Lux pondered. "Could there have been some unforeseen event?"
However, having come this far, retreat was not an option for the two seasoned warriors, who were not easily intimidated by such inexplicable circumstances.
They led their troops onward until the sun began to dip low in the sky, casting its fading light upon the northwestern part of the woods.
"Roar…" A deafening roar erupted as several Flame Leopards leaped from the shadows of the forest, blocking the path of the two women.
"Finally, a magical beast appears," Lux exclaimed, visibly relieved at the sight. "Please convey to the Lord of Winter Embrace that we are the forces of DeBang, and we bring the items he requires to fulfill our prior agreement."
Yet, the four Flame Leopards remained unmoved, continuing to growl lowly, steadfastly preventing their advance.
"Do you not understand my words?" Lux questioned, puzzled. "I thought Flame Leopards were fifth-tier magical beasts; surely they should grasp my meaning?"
But regardless of her efforts to communicate, the magical beasts continued their low growls, refusing to yield even an inch.
The girl, utterly exasperated, declared, "What is going on? Did I not make it clear? I—am—here—to—see—your—king—regarding—an—important—matter! How many times must I repeat myself?"
"Roar… Roar…"
"…" The girl was rendered speechless.
"Ha ha…" Shivana chuckled softly beside her.
"Ahhh… Shivana, why are you laughing? I'm doing all of this for you! For your beloved!" Lux exclaimed in frustration.
"It's rare to see the headstrong and adorable Lux in such a plight," Shivana smiled. "At least these Flame Leopards have managed to do what General Garen has always failed to achieve—quite impressive, indeed."
"Really, what is going on?" Lux muttered in annoyance.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed in the distance.
The next instant, a colossal figure emerged from the dense trees.
A head as large as a hill descended from above the towering foliage, gazing down with large, serene beastly eyes at the diminutive humans below, who appeared as insignificant as ants.
Its magnificent silver fur glimmered in the waning sunlight, and the immense wolf's body towered above the trees, even those standing over ten meters tall barely reaching its waist.
Thus, the massive white wolf, resembling a small mountain, loomed silently before the group.
"Is this… the ninth-tier magical beast, the Moon Eater Wolf?" Shivana gasped in astonishment.
"Humans, you have returned to the Winter Embrace Forest. What brings you here?" the gigantic wolf spoke slowly in the common tongue of Valoran.
"Dear Mr. Wolf, I come bearing the Night Demon Crystals required by your master, hoping to fulfill the agreement made with him previously," Lux replied, bowing slightly.
"Have you not already obtained the Crown of the Ancient Golem? What further transaction remains?" the wolf inquired, puzzled.
"What?" both women gasped in unison.
"You seem quite surprised; were not the individuals who came yesterday part of your DeBang?" the wolf said, confused by their reaction.
"Yesterday?" Lux and Shivana exchanged glances, recalling that they had been a hundred miles away in the provincial capital of Tianxin City just the day before.
Wait a moment, Lux's eyes narrowed in realization, "Respected Mr. Wolf, might you tell me if the leader of those individuals was a man with a scar over his right eye?"
"Indeed, the leader was a very polite young man, albeit with a scar over his right eye. What of it?" the wolf asked, intrigued.
"This…" Lux and Shivana shared a glance, smiles fading into frowns, realizing their precautions had been for naught, and that this person had gotten ahead of them, bringing trouble upon themselves.
"I demand to see your king! Why has he violated our agreement by transferring items to another?" In contrast to Lux's dismay, upon hearing this news, Shivana's demeanor shifted from elegant to a mix of fury and urgency as she charged forward.
But Lux quickly grasped her slender waist, forcibly restraining her furious sister.
At this point, it was evident that in order to prevent Prince Javen's revival, that man had preemptively exchanged the Crown of the Ancient Golem, and they had no grounds to blame the Lord of Winter Embrace; after all, how one chooses to manage their possessions is entirely their own prerogative. Shivana surely understood this principle, yet knowing it and accepting it were two different matters.
After days of waiting, relentless travel, and rising hopes, only to end with such a result, Lux could only smile wryly in resignation.
Nonetheless, the girl narrowed her striking eyes dangerously; it seemed that the prince truly wished to avoid the disgrace rumored about him, having successfully concealed his actions and placed a spy beside her, for there was no way he could have known of the Crown's presence without this subterfuge.
Furthermore, her ignorance of this spy was alarming; the prince's actions were incredibly decisive and well-coordinated—so meticulous that even she, the Empire's intelligence officer, had failed to detect a single clue. Clearly, she had underestimated him in the past.
As the girl contemplated, suddenly!
A massive pillar of light shot into the sky from afar, piercing the heavens, a vast presence shaking the firmament. Waves of energy surged forth like ripples, scattering countless white clouds. Beneath this overwhelming force, the previously fierce Flame Leopards quivered in fear, collapsing to the ground.
"Is this… the dismantling of the magic seal?" Lux narrowed her eyes, recalling the stunning scene she had inadvertently witnessed beneath the temple.
"Hmm? Young human girl, how do you know about the… magic seal?" Clearly taken aback by Lux's knowledge of the distant events, the giant white wolf was intrigued.
"Um… actually, we happened to see the sealed girl in the underground temple," Lux explained apologetically with a slight bow.
"Ah, I see… Well, then, ladies, I must ask you to leave," the wolf said, gazing at the towering pillar of light with a complex and tumultuous expression. "The Winter Embrace Forest does not belong to humans, and His Majesty has decreed that no one is permitted to approach this place. Please depart."
"May I ask one final question, Mr. Wolf?" Lux looked up at the immense pillar of light, lost in thought. "Is the one dismantling the magic seal Mr. Xiao Muyu?"
"Ah… indeed, it is His Majesty," the wolf replied.
"Then, thank you for your generous response; we shall take our leave now." The young woman gracefully bowed and turned to leave, pulling along the despondent Shivana.
"Ah, humans..." The magic wolf sighed as he watched the two women depart, then turned toward the enormous pillar of light, his vast beastly eyes reflecting a hint of tension, a glimmer of hope, as well as a touch of shame and trepidation.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票